Startup Britain
StartUp Britain is a national campaign to encourage more people to start a business and support existing businesses to grow. The face of the campaign is a website that offers links to useful resources and corporate offers.
Entrepreneurs Fast Track (Carbon Trust)
The Carbon Trust can provide a customised package of expert commercial advice, networking opportunities and grant funding to small enterprises that are developing low carbon technologies in the UK.
- Commercial Advice is delivered through commercial and technical consultancy services up to the value of £70k
- Networking opportunities are with investors and industry partners through Carbon Trust contacts.
- Grant Funding is for research and development projects of up to £500,000 and up to 60% of project costs
NESTA
NESTA is the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts and is one of the UK's largest seed-stage investors. The fund aims to demonstrate how a blend of private and public capital can drive world-beating, innovative UK companies and is a model which is increasingly becoming replicated across the country. NESTA combines capital investment with non-financial support to help the UK's innovative early-stage companies turn their ideas into commercial success. It has strict investment criteria, and only works with companies that have high potential for growth, are at seed or start-up stage, and have the potential to attract syndicated support.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP) (European Commission)
The EIP, one of the specific programmes under the CIP (see below), seeks to support innovation and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the EU, focusing on:
- Access to finance
- Business services
- Support for improving innovation policy
- Supply for innovation and SME policy-making through contracts and grants
CIP Eco-innovation funding (European Commission)
This initiative is addressed mainly to organisations that have developed an environmental product, service, management practice or process which has a proven track record, yet is not fully marketed due to residual risks. The Eco-innovation initiative is intended to overcome those barriers to further market penetration and turn these products and processes into Europe's future eco-innovation successes! Applications from SMEs are particularly encouraged. The call for proposals under this programme are currently closed. Around €35,000 will be available to fund new projects this year.
Biosciences and biotechnology related grants (BBSRC)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is one of seven Research Councils that work together as Research Councils UK (RCUK). It is funded from the Government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). This grants guide includes information on eligibility, terms and conditions of grants, and details of BBSRC funding schemes.
BBSRC follow-on funding (BBSRC)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is one of 7 Research Councils that work together as Research Councils UK (RCUK). It is funded from the Government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The follow-on funding is for ‘proof of concept’ at the very early stage of turning research outputs into a commercial proposition. It funds work to convert an idea into a robust business plan where a route to commercialisation is clear, for example a spin-out (seed or venture finance) or licensing opportunity. Typically grants are for £80K-120K normally over 12 months. The next application deadline is October 2011 (to be confirmed).
BBSRC biotechnology young entrepreneurs scheme (BBSRC)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is one of 7 Research Councils that work together as Research Councils UK (RCUK). It is funded from the Government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The Biotechnology YES (Young Entrepreneurs Scheme) is an innovative competition developed to raise awareness of the commercialisation of bioscience ideas among postgraduate students/postdoctoral scientists. The next application deadline is in 2012 (to be confirmed).
British Business Angels Association
Business angels are private wealthy individuals who may be interested in taking a stake in your business in exchange for funds which can be used for investment and growth. As with Venture Capital these investors are looking for very high returns on their money. Business angels usually also offer to help you with growing your business and can help in all sorts of ways: from becoming someone who helps you run the business, to someone who just makes a few phone calls to introduce you to the people you need to know, especially new customers or other investors. Most business angels invest between £10,000 and £750,000 in a business, but sometimes they invest together in a syndicate which will usually be led by one of the investors. They look to invest for between 5 and 10 years, though occasionally they manage to sell out earlier than that. They are often the first investors fast growing companies will have and often invest when a company is at too early a stage for venture capital funds. The best way to find business angels is through your local angel networks. There are networks in every region of the UK and can be found by talking to BusinessLink and local business people or people in the industry your business is in. Many of the networks can be found by approaching the British Business Angels Association.
Related information (websites)
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